YES! National Student Writing Competition

An opportunity for students to write for an audience beyond the classroom, and personally reflect on topics that impact them and their world.

The YES! National Student Writing Competition demonstrates how teachers can use YES! Magazine stories as the basis for thought-provoking writing. It also gives students an opportunity to voice their opinions and show off their exemplary writing.

Each quarter, students will have the opportunity to read and respond to designated YES! Magazine articles, using the same writing prompt to write a 700-word essay. One essay per age category is selected by YES! for being the most well-written and compelling, and for capturing the spirit of the article. Read these model essays—some from the former YES! Exemplary Essay Project— in addition to responses from the articles' authors.

Read Alex's essay, "A New Design for Language," about the social and grammatical limits of gender-neutral pronouns—and how to get beyond them. Alex responded to the YES! article, "'They' and the Emotional Weight," by Cole, founder of the Brown Boi Project.

Read Ella's essay, "Language is a Many-Gendered Thing," about the challenges of using gender-neutral pronouns in a Puerto Rican American family. Ella responded to the YES! article, "'They' and the Emotional Weight," by Cole, founder of the Brown Boi Project.

Read Avery's essay, "Existing Openly Is Half the Battle," about being the token nonbinary person at college while still learning about their own gender. Avery responded to the YES! article, "'They' and the Emotional Weight," by Cole, founder of the Brown Boi Project.

Read Toby's essay, "The Thoughts and Struggle of a Two Spirit," about embracing a new gender identity—and rediscovering a tradition. This essay was in response to the YES! artricle, "'They' and The Emotional Weight of Words," by Cole of the Brown Boi Project.

Read Madeleine's essay, "The Right to Be a Little Bit Rude," about overcoming the discomfort of correcting people who use the wrong gender pronouns. Madeleine responded to the YES! article, "'They' and the Emotional Weight," by Cole, founder of the Brown Boi Project.

Read Joanne's essay, "The Jintas of Conservative Korean Culture," about how words should never be allowed to limit who we are. Joanne responded to the YES! article, "'They' and the Emotional Weight," by Cole, founder of the Brown Boi Project.

Read Alex's essay, "A New Design for Language," about the social and grammatical limits of gender-neutral pronouns—and how to get beyond them. Alex responded to the YES! article, "'They' and the Emotional Weight," by Cole, founder of the Brown Boi Project.

Read Ella's essay, "Language is a Many-Gendered Thing," about the challenges of using gender-neutral pronouns in a Puerto Rican American family. Ella responded to the YES! article, "'They' and the Emotional Weight," by Cole, founder of the Brown Boi Project.

Read Avery's essay, "Existing Openly Is Half the Battle," about being the token nonbinary person at college while still learning about their own gender. Avery responded to the YES! article, "'They' and the Emotional Weight," by Cole, founder of the Brown Boi Project.

Read Toby's essay, "The Thoughts and Struggle of a Two Spirit," about embracing a new gender identity—and rediscovering a tradition. This essay was in response to the YES! artricle, "'They' and The Emotional Weight of Words," by Cole of the Brown Boi Project.

Read Madeleine's essay, "The Right to Be a Little Bit Rude," about overcoming the discomfort of correcting people who use the wrong gender pronouns. Madeleine responded to the YES! article, "'They' and the Emotional Weight," by Cole, founder of the Brown Boi Project.

Read Joanne's essay, "The Jintas of Conservative Korean Culture," about how words should never be allowed to limit who we are. Joanne responded to the YES! article, "'They' and the Emotional Weight," by Cole, founder of the Brown Boi Project.